Betting on the wrong horse
The controversy is not over whether poker is inherently good or bad, but the government's motives. Why prioritise this issue when the country is facing far more urgent challenges? Why the haste, and why the absence of a clear public explanation?
In Thailand, poker had been listed as a form of gambling since 1958. Against today's backdrop of military clashes and economic instability, it is hardly surprising that many citizens are questioning the government's intent in suddenly changing the rules.
This move follows an earlier attempt by the administration to legalise online gambling and entertainment complexes centred on casinos. The effort faced opposition and was eventually withdrawn from parliament. Thus, the abrupt decision to declassify poker from the gambling list inevitably raises suspicions.
The government argues that changing the rules on poker will allow Thailand to host international poker tournaments. It also says the game is recognised as a sport in many countries and that several Thais have achieved professional status abroad. Yet the pressing question remains: which domestic safeguards ensure the game will strictly be practised as a sport?
Recent months have seen police raids on illegal poker dens in Bangkok, Phuket and Pattaya, with hundreds of millions of baht in gambling proceeds seized from both Thai and foreign players. These activities are clearly unrelated to poker as a sport. Will legalisation inadvertently legitimise such operations or send the wrong message that poker gambling is now permissible?
While the government defends poker legalisation as an effort to promote a sport, the timing raises questions. Thailand is set to host the 33rd SEA Games in December, yet key budget allocations remain stalled.
Although the cabinet has approved more than 2 billion baht for the event, slow disbursement is hindering preparations. For example, a budget request for 450 million baht for the opening and closing ceremonies has been rejected. Instead, the organisers will receive just 45 million baht for both ceremonies. If the government's priority is truly to promote sports, shouldn't the SEA Games, now only four months away, take precedence?
Investigations by the Isra News Agency reveal the policy shift followed a request from RF Club Co, Ltd, which represents the entertainment brand World Poker Tour. According to Isra, company's officials met Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong in April to propose hosting a Texas Hold'em demonstration event in Thailand.
The order legalising poker as a sport took effect on July 30. Two days later, WPT staged its inaugural demonstration at a Bangkok shopping mall. This sequence has fuelled further concerns over government transparency.
No one disputes poker's global status or the potential tourism benefits of hosting poker tournaments. But legalising this game without safeguards, without public engagement, and in the shadow of widespread underground gambling is simply reckless. Without firm regulations, clear communication and a demonstrable commitment to preventing abuse, this hurried decision risks turning a sport into a legal loophole.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Bangkok Post
2 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
Clean energy dearth dents foreign interest
Ongoing political instability may slow Thai economic growth, but a larger hindrance is in the energy sector, as Thailand risks losing 1 trillion baht in foreign investment opportunities if the government does not step up efforts to facilitate renewable power usage, according to Thailand Development Research Institute (TDRI). Many foreign companies, especially those in data centre and cloud service businesses, are waiting for authorities to allow peer-to-peer power trade, eager to know how clean electricity will be bought and sold under a new law. Companies are still prohibited from buying renewable power directly from producers, but foreign investors want the government to adjust this outdated regulation. The current rule requires them to buy electricity through state electricity agencies such as the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand. Many of these foreign companies increasingly depend on greater use of clean power. "Slow progress in new clean energy management can deprive Thailand of the ability to attract foreign investment and maintain the country's economic development," said Areeporn Asawinpongphan, a research fellow on energy policy at TDRI. Many industries are located in the Eastern Economic Corridor, but this economic zone envisioned as the country's high-tech industrial hub cannot ensure sufficient renewable power supply, she said. In June 2024, the National Energy Policy Council approved a pilot direct power purchase agreement (PPA) project, enabling companies to buy renewable electricity directly from producers, following a request from foreign data centre developers. The Energy Regulatory Commission and the Energy Policy and Planning Office already conducted a feasibility study on this project, aimed to have companies sell and buy 2,000 megawatts of clean power under direct PPAs, but the project has progressed at a snail's pace. This is an obstacle for companies that need renewable power for their operations to avoid the impact of the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism, which imposes a fee on imports of products using carbon-intensive manufacturing into the EU. Ms Areeporn said insufficient efforts to prepare for the shift towards clean energy can also affect many workers in industries that emit large amount of greenhouse gases. Green jobs promoting eco-friendly energy and manufacturing must be generated for workers who need to change careers, she said.
Bangkok Post
2 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
Calls for new mums to get more leave
A Thammasat University academic has backed calls to extend Thailand's maternity leave from 98 to 180 days as part of an effort to help the country tackle its declining birth rate. Kritsada Theerakosonphong, a lecturer at Thammasat University's Faculty of Social Administration, said on Tuesday that maternity leave of 180 days would bring Thailand in line with World Health Organization (WHO) standards. The WHO advises a minimum period matching the International Labour Organisation's convention on providing maternity leave of no less than 14 weeks and recommends the period should ideally be no less than 18 weeks. Mr Kritsada, also adviser to the House extraordinary committee on reviewing the amended Labour Protection Bill, said the leave policy and other related childcare policies are particularly relevant in the context of the ageing society and low birth rate facing the country. "Personally, I believe increasing privileges and welfare would give women more confidence to start a family. Society should focus on welfare to ease the decision to have children," he said. "In 2012, there were over 300,000 childbirth claims under the Social Security scheme. Last year, the number had dropped to 220,000 or a 26% fall. This declining birth rate will shrink the future workforce," he said. Thai labour laws currently guarantee 98 days of maternity leave, with the Senate currently reviewing a bill to raise the provision to 120 days. Mr Kritsada said if the Senate approves the draft, it will become law, "assuming there is no political obstruction to the bill, like a house dissolution". However, he added, 120 days still falls short of the civil sector goal of 180 days.
Bangkok Post
2 hours ago
- Bangkok Post
Upper House 'no threat to Budget Bill'
Senator Alongkot Worakee, deputy chair of the Senate's Ad-Hoc Committee on the 2026 Budget Bill, dismissed speculation that the Upper House might vote down the draft legislation. He stressed on Tuesday that such a move would harm the economy, adding that the Senate's role is limited to offering observations rather than making amendments. The House of Representatives on Wednesday begins a special three-day session to deliberate on the second and third readings of the 3.78-trillion-baht fiscal 2026 Budget Bill. This follows the ad-hoc committee's review, which proposed cuts totalling 8.92 billion baht. The committee, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira, trimmed allocations across all ministries after the bill passed its first reading on May 31 with 322 votes in favour and 158 against. The largest cuts were made to the Interior Ministry (2.148 billion baht), parliament (880 million), the Transport Ministry (795 million), the Public Health Ministry (693 million), and the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry (459 million). Of the reduced funds, 8.69 billion baht were reallocated to priority projects and agencies. These included state enterprises for land and construction of the Orange Line (4.914 billion baht), the Finance Ministry to host the 2026 World Bank and IMF annual meetings (1.568 billion baht), the central budget for emergency aid (1 billion baht), and the Labour Ministry for contributions to the Social Security Fund (1 billion baht). Chief government whip Visuth Chainaroon voiced confidence that a quorum would be maintained and deliberations concluded on Wednesday to ensure its passage by the third day. Opposition MPs are expected to use the debate to highlight political issues, including the recent Thai–Cambodian border clashes, with the military's budget, he said. Sen Alongkot reiterated there is no reason for the Senate to block the bill. "We can make observations, but we should not delay its passage. Given the current economic situation, the faster the funds are approved, the faster they can be disbursed," he said.
